Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amit G. Singal, Andrew Masica, Kate Esselink, Caitlin C. Murphy, Jill A. Dever, Annika Reczek, Matthew Bensen, Nicole Mack, Ellen Stutts, Jamie L. Ridenhour, Evan Galt, Jordan Brainerd, Noa Kopplin, Sruthi Yekkaluri, Chris Rubio, Shelby Anderson, Kathryn Jan, Natalie Whitworth, Jacqueline Wagner, Stephen Allen, Alagar R. Muthukumar, Jasmin Tiro
Summary: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19, risk factors of infection, and related attitudes and behaviors in an urban population. The results showed that over 10% of the population in the city had been infected with COVID-19, and there were differences in attitudes and behaviors among different races and ethnicities.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Friederike Weschenfelder, Janine Zoellkau, Anna Schohe, Ulrich Pecks, Tanja Groten, Ute Schaefer-Graf
Summary: This study aims to investigate whether obesity is an independent risk factor for severe maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19. The results showed that obesity was significantly associated with gestational diabetes, hypertensive pregnancy disorders, and higher rates of C-sections. BMI was identified as a predictor for severe outcomes such as maternal or neonatal death and preterm delivery (<32 weeks).
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mina Tadrous, Hannah Chung, Siyu Men, Cherry Chu, Tonya Campbell, David N. Juurlink, Jeffrey C. Kwong, J. Michael Paterson, Tara Gomes
Summary: No increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was found after vaccination, suggesting that there is no broad transmission of disease at the time of vaccination. However, individuals vaccinated in congregate settings showed a higher rate of infection, emphasizing the need for safe vaccine administration in these settings.
Letter
Immunology
Isabel Griffin, Kate R. Woodworth, Romeo R. Galang, Veronica K. Burkel, Varsha Neelam, Samantha Siebman, Jerusha Barton, Susan E. Manning, Kathryn Aveni, Nicole D. Longcore, Elizabeth M. Harvey, Van Ngo, Deborah Mbotha, Sarah Chicchelly, Mamie Lush, Valorie Eckert, Paula Dzimira, Ayomide Sokale, Miguel Valencia-Prado, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, Adam MacNeil, Suzanne M. Gilboa, Van T. Tong
Summary: The Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network conducted longitudinal surveillance of pregnant individuals in the United States with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Among the 6,551 infected pregnant individuals in this analysis, 142 (2.2%) tested positive for RNA >90 days and up to 416 days after infection.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Iman Dandachi, Waleed Aljabr
Summary: Since its emergence in China in 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has had a global impact. The virus is easily transmitted from person to person through infected aerosols or contaminated surfaces. COVID-19 has a wide range of prognoses, from asymptomatic to severe disease or death. Several factors, including underlying medical conditions like diabetes and cancer, play a role in determining the severity of the disease. In the Middle East, there is limited knowledge about the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in high-risk categories such as diabetes, cancer, and pregnant women. More studies are needed to identify clinical biomarkers of COVID-19 in high-risk populations in the Middle East for improved risk stratification and management.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Cosmin Citu, Veronica Daniela Chiriac, Ioana Mihaela Citu, Oana Maria Gorun, Bogdan Burlea, Felix Bratosin, Daniela-Eugenia Popescu, Adrian Ratiu, Oana Buca, Florin Gorun
Summary: This study investigated the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women in Romania and identified factors influencing their choices. The findings revealed that factors such as urban residence, higher education, the third trimester of pregnancy, trust in the government, frequent travel, concern about the severity of COVID-19, availability of vaccines nearby, and observing others getting vaccinated were significantly associated with vaccination acceptance.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Seyed M. Moghadas, Pratha Sah, Affan Shoukat, Lauren Ancel Meyers, Alison P. Galvani
Summary: As of July 15, 2021, it was estimated that 62.0% of the U.S. population had immunity against COVID-19, with adults aged 65 and older having the highest immunity level and children under 12 having the lowest. However, this level of immunity may still be insufficient to fully contain outbreaks and return to pre-pandemic social behavior.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Anton Barchuk, Daniil Shirokov, Mariia Sergeeva, Rustam Tursunzade, Olga Dudkina, Varvara Tychkova, Lubov Barabanova, Dmitriy Skougarevskiy, Daria Danilenko
Summary: This study evaluates antibody tests used in a serological study of SARS--CoV--2 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Sensitivity and specificity varied among different antibody assays, with CMIA Abbott showing lower AUC. Less than 33% of participants with positive antibody test results had neutralizing antibodies in titers 1:80 and above.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
M. C. Magnus, L. Oakley, H. K. Gjessing, O. Stephansson, H. M. Engjom, F. Macsali, P. B. Juliusson, A-M Nybo Andersen, S. E. Haberg
Summary: The study found that pregnant women were not more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but pregnant women, especially those born outside of Scandinavia, were more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
S. Donati, E. Corsi, A. Maraschini, M. A. Salvatore
Summary: The study found that the majority of pregnant women infected with the virus were asymptomatic, while a small percentage required treatment for pneumonia or ventilatory support. Risk factors for developing pneumonia included age, citizenship from countries with high migration pressure, previous comorbidities, and obesity. Preterm birth rates increased compared to the pre-pandemic period, while stillbirths and maternal and neonatal deaths remained stable. The need for ventilatory support and/or ICU admission increased during the Alpha-variant period compared to the wild-type period.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Maria P. Velez, Deshayne B. Fell, Jonas P. Shellenberger, Jeffrey C. Kwong, Joel G. Ray
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the risk of miscarriage following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, taking into account the competing risk of induced abortion.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Irene Cetin, Maria Mandalari, Elena Cesari, Catia Rosanna Borriello, Michele Ercolanoni, Giuseppe Preziosi
Summary: This study analyzed the vaccination uptake of pregnant women in the Lombardy region of Italy in relation to SARS-CoV-2 and compared it to non-pregnant women. The findings showed that the vaccination rate among pregnant women increased after official recommendations were issued. Pregnant women with Italian citizenship and higher education were more likely to receive the vaccine.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yun Lin, Bingyi Yang, Sarah Cobey, Eric H. Y. Lau, Dillon C. Adam, Jessica Y. Wong, Helen S. Bond, Justin K. Cheung, Faith Ho, Huizhi Gao, Sheikh Taslim Ali, Nancy H. L. Leung, Tim K. Tsang, Peng Wu, Gabriel M. Leung, Benjamin J. Cowling
Summary: Analysis of viral load data on confirmed cases can improve real-time estimation of the reproductive number, enabling more timely tracking of epidemic dynamics.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dan H. Barouch
Summary: This article reviews the protective effects of vaccination and prior infection on severe Covid-19, and proposes future research directions.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Filomena Giulia Sileo, Laura Bonvicini, Pamela Mancuso, Massimo Vicentini, Lorenzo Aguzzoli, Asma Khalil, Paolo Giorgi Rossi
Summary: Despite being more likely to undergo SARS-CoV-2 testing, pregnant women and women in the puerperium have a relatively low risk of COVID-19 infection. This suggests that pregnant women and women in the puerperium may have adopted effective protective behaviors to reduce their risk of infection.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Stefano Guerra, Julie G. Ledford, Erik Melen, Iris Lavi, Anne-Elie Carsin, Debra A. Stern, Jing Zhai, Marta Vidal, Mariona Bustamante, Kenneth J. Addison, Renata G. Vallecillo, Dean Billheimer, Gerard H. Koppelman, Judith Garcia-Aymerich, Nathanael Lemonnier, Montserrat Fito, Carlota Dobano, Simon Kebede Merid, Inger Kull, Rosemary R. C. McEachan, John Wright, Leda Chatzi, Manolis Kogevinas, Daniela Porta, Silvia Narduzzi, Ferran Ballester, Ana Esplugues, Carlos Zabaleta, Amaia Irizar, Jordi Sunyer, Marilyn Halonen, Jean Bousquet, Fernando D. Martinez, Josep M. Anto
Summary: A study was conducted to screen circulating proteins in childhood asthma and investigate their association with the disease in a mouse model. It was found that creatine kinase (CK) was consistently associated with asthma, and this association was further supported by gene expression analysis and a mouse model experiment.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Roser Porta, Fermin Garcia-Munoz Rodrigo, Alejandro Avila-Alvarez, Paula Sol Ventura, Montserrat Izquierdo Renau, Gemma Ginovart, Spanish Soc Neonatology
Summary: The study aimed to analyze trends in the delivery room approach and survival of extremely premature infants over the past two decades. The results showed an increasing trend of active approach and survival for infants born at 23 weeks, but lower rates of antenatal steroid administration compared to the intention to resuscitate. Infants born at 22 weeks had lower rates of active approach and survival.
Article
Physiology
Gerard Amoros-Figueras, Sergi Casabella-Ramon, Georgina Company-Se, Dabit Arzamendi, Esther Jorge, Alvaro Garcia-Osuna, Yolanda Macias, Damian Sanchez-Quintana, Javier Rosell-Ferrer, Jose M. Guerra, Juan Cinca
Summary: A model of atrial infarction was established by selective occlusion of atrial coronary branches. Multifrequency impedance mapping can recognize atrial infarct scarring with lower data variability, which has potential application in the study of atrial arrhythmia mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Carmen Garrido-Gimenez, Monica Cruz-Lemini, Francisco V. Alvarez, Madalina Nicoleta Nan, Francisco Carretero, Antonio Fernandez-Oliva, Josefina Mora, Olga Sanchez-Garcia, Alvaro Garcia-Osuna, Jaume Alijotas-Reig, Elisa Llurba
Summary: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and uric acid levels are increased in preeclampsia pregnancies. Using angiogenic factors for short-term prediction of preeclampsia has limitations. A machine-learning model (MLM) combining NT-proBNP, uric acid, and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio improves the prediction accuracy for preterm preeclampsia.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manolis Kogevinas, Marianna Karachaliou, Ana Espinosa, Ruth Aguilar, Gemma Castano-Vinyals, Judith Garcia-Aymerich, Anna Carreras, Beatriz Cortes, Vanessa Pleguezuelos, Kyriaki Papantoniou, Rocio Rubio, Alfons Jimenez, Marta Vidal, Pau Serra, Daniel Parras, Pere Santamaria, Luis Izquierdo, Marta Cirach, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Payam Dadvand, Kurt Straif, Gemma Moncunill, Rafael de Cid, Carlota Dobano, Cathryn Tonne
Summary: This study found an association between long-term exposure to air pollution and a lower antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines. Among vaccinated individuals without prior infection, higher levels of exposure to PM2.5, NO2, BC, and O3 were associated with lower vaccine antibody responses. This association persisted over time since vaccination.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Clara Murillo, Silvia Ferrero, Teresa Cobo, Montse Izquierdo Renau, Victoria Aldecoa, Laia Grau, Julia Ponce, Claudia Rueda, Montse Palacio
Summary: This study evaluated the outcomes of pregnant women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) eligible for outpatient care. The results showed that women eligible for outpatient management had better prognosis and the neonatal outcomes were significantly better in the outpatient group.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Amir Ariff, Yong Song, Ruth Aguilar, Augusto Nhabomba, Maria Nelia Manaca, Siew-Kim Khoo, Selma Wiertsema, Quique Bassat, Arnoldo Barbosa, Llorenc Quinto, Ingrid A. Laing, Caterina Guinovart, Pedro L. Alonso, Carlota Dobano, Peter Le Souef, Guicheng Zhang
Summary: In a randomized controlled clinical trial in Mozambique, researchers found significant associations between TLR4 gene and related genes with the incidence of clinical malaria. These findings suggest a potential central role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of clinical malaria.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Carla Dominguez-Gallardo, Nuria Ginjaume-Garcia, Johana Ullmo, Antonio Fernandez-Oliva, Juan Parra, Ana Vazquez, Monica Cruz-Lemini, Elisa Llurba
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the association between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and cardiac left-ventricle (LV) dysfunction. The global and segmental LV longitudinal strain was measured using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) software, and the differences in cardiac function were compared between FGR and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) fetuses. The study found that FGR fetuses had lower LV strain values, indicating subclinical cardiac dysfunction. The findings provide more insights into fetal cardiac function in cases of placental dysfunction and highlight the potential use of 2D-STE in monitoring the cardiac function of these fetuses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Madalina Nicoleta Nan, Alvaro Garcia-Osuna, Josefina Mora, Cristina Trilla, Assumpta Antonijuan, Vanesa Orantes, Monica Cruz-Lemini, Francisco Blanco-Vaca, Elisa Llurba
Summary: Algorithms for first-trimester prediction of pre-eclampsia lack sensitivity for predicting late-onset pre-eclampsia and other placental complications. This study aimed to assess the screening performance of biomarkers in the prediction of adverse obstetric outcomes related to placental insufficiency. PlGF, sFlt-1, NT-proBNP, and uric acid measurements combined with maternal factors improved the prediction of complications.
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Leonor Guinon, Francisco J. Illana, Biel Cuevas, Marina Canyelles, Cecilia Martinez-Bru, Alvaro Garcia-Osuna
Summary: This study assessed the usefulness of the EP31-A-IR guideline published by CLSI in conducting periodic verification of results' comparability between several analyzers.
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Chenjerai Jairoce, Didac Macia, Jorge P. Torres-Yaguana, Leonie Mayer, Marta Vidal, Rebeca Santano, Ramon Hurtado-Guerrero, Karine Reiter, David L. Narum, Borja Lopez-Gutierrez, Timothy Hamerly, Jahit Sacarlal, Ruth Aguilar, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Gemma Moncunill, Luis Izquierdo, Carlota Dobano
Summary: The study shows that the RTS,S/AS02A malaria vaccine induces IgG antibodies that equally recognize nonfucosylated and native-like fucosylated PfCSP, indicating that posttranslational modification by O-fucosylation does not significantly affect antibody-antigen binding.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Sergio Verd, Roser Porta, Gemma Ginovart, Alejandro Avila-Alvarez, Fermin Garcia-Munoz Rodrigo, Montserrat Izquierdo Renau, Paula Sol Ventura
Summary: This study investigates the potential role of human milk feeding in protecting extremely preterm infants from bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The results show that human milk feeding at discharge, both exclusive and any amount, is associated with a lower incidence of moderate-severe BPD.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ayako Nakaki, Francesca Crovetto, Andrea Urru, Gemma Piella, Roger Borras, Valentin Comte, Kilian Vellve, Cristina Paules, Laura Segales, Marta Dacal, Yvan Gomez, Lina Youssef, Rosa Casas, Sara Castro-Barquero, Andres Martin-Asuero, Teresa Oller Guzman, Ivette Morilla, Anabel Martinez-Aran, Alba Camacho, Mireia Pascual Tutusaus, Angela Arranz, Monica Rebollo-Polo, Marta Gomez-Chiari, Nuria Bargallo, Oscar J. Pozo, Alex Gomez-Gomez, Montserrat Izquierdo Renau, Elisenda Eixarch, Eduard Vieta, Ramon Estruch, Fatima Crispi, Miguel Angel Gonzalez-Ballester, Eduard Gratacos
Summary: This study found that structured lifestyle interventions during pregnancy, including a Mediterranean diet and stress reduction, were associated with differences in fetal and neonatal brain development. The Mediterranean diet was associated with larger fetal brain volume and better neurobehavioral assessment results, while stress reduction was related to specific brain region volume and regulation of state scores.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY MFM
(2023)